Murder trial shapes a test for Yudhoyono

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The trial of a Garuda pilot charged with poisoning Indonesia's
leading human rights campaigner is becoming a test for President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, with investigators and activists
suggesting the case is covering up a conspiracy involving the
nation's elite.

Pollycarpus Priyanto was indicted yesterday for allegedly
spiking Munir Said Thalib's orange juice with arsenic on a flight
to Amsterdam last year.

A court packed with protesters wearing face masks of the
outspoken and popular Munir shouted "Murderer, murderer" as the
prosecution case was outlined, alleging Pollycarpus was assisted
only by two cabin attendants.

Asmara Nababan, deputy head of the fact-finding team into Mr
Munir's murder, appointed by Dr Yudhoyono after intense public
pressure, said the indictment contradicted its finding of a
conspiracy linking the murder and Pollycarpus to the top of
Indonesia's national intelligence agency, BIN.

Mr Nababan told The Age that Dr Yudhoyono should
immediately release his team's report and intervene in the police
investigation.

He said the team obtained Pollycarpus' phone records showing a
large number of calls to the deputy head of BIN shortly before and
after the murder.

After the hearing, Pollycarpus' lawyer, Mohammad Assegaf, said
he had been "made a victim just to cover a bigger interest".

Speculation has focused on BIN's former head, retired general
Hendropriyono, and its chief secretary, Nurhadi Djazuli, who was
appointed Indonesia's ambassador to Nigeria by Dr Yudhoyono in
March.

Mr Nurhadi complained that the controversy hurt him financially
by delaying his posting.

Mr Munir co-founded the human rights group Kontras. He was an
outspoken critic of Indonesian human rights abuses, attacking the
conduct of military and intelligence agencies in East Timor, Aceh
and Papua.

He claimed army officers ran a large criminal network involved
in illegal logging and drug smuggling.

Although BIN denied any connection to Pollycarpus, he often
travelled to separatist provinces and made contact with human
rights campaigners. Mr Nababan said Pollycarpus' phone records
refuted BIN's claims.

"We found intense communication between Pollycarpus and BIN,
right after Munir's death and also after it was found he was killed
with arsenic.

"We found this is a conspiracy," Mr Nababan said. "The
prosecution doesn't depend on this court, it depends on the
commitment of the President."

He said police were unwilling to follow the evidence uncovered
by the fact-finding team because there was "political pressure to
not uncover the truth".

"Of course, BIN is involved, so the President should prove his
words when he said he did not want to see the Munir case as an
unfinished job."

Kontras head Usman Hamid was pessimistic about the outcome of
the case, saying that it resulted from a weak police investigation
that did not examine the links to BIN.

"The President should do something or law enforcement agencies
will not be willing to bring the mastermind to justice," he
said.

A convoy of Munir supporters surrounded the court, carrying
large black cards with white questions marks and a sign urging the
"delang" (puppet master) of the killing be found.

Mr Assegaf questioned why only Pollycarpus and two flight
attendants were being accused.